Bible Chapter: Exodus 3

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    What a major change, from the highest life to tending sheep in the desert.  Moses spent the first forty years of his life living in the palace.  Then he spent the next forty years out in the desert.  We don’t know all the details, but we know that God taught Moses many things during that time.  We also see that he needed to learn more.  In particular, he needed to learn to really trust God.  We see his fear as God begins to lay out His plans for Moses.
    God also taught Moses about His holiness.  God is pure, perfect and complete.  God is totally separated from evil.  There is no sin in Him.  This is a lesson those who follow Jesus must learn.  His holiness is our example and we must strive to live a holy life.  Living a holy life sometimes brings attacks and sarcasm (often from those who don’t live a holy life and don’t want to live as God directs).  Being holy is not something to lord over others, but it is critically important to living a life that pleases God.  Holiness makes life better.  Just as it is better and more satisfying to live in cleanliness and not filth, it is more productive and blessed to live a holy life, above the stench and destruction of sin.
    God also revealed Himself as the I Am.  He is self-existent and is accountable to no one.  He is present and active.  This means that He will always be with His people.  One of the names given to Jesus at His birth is Immanuel, which means God with us.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    God told Moses that He heard the cries of the people bound in slavery.  He had a plan to release them.  God was going to use Moses to lead that plan.  God hears our cries.  He will come through for us when we don’t think it is possible.  And, He will use us in ways we would never think possible.  God has provided opportunities for me to be used by Him that are more than I thought possible.  This gives me more dreams of ways God wants to use me.  Moses was quick to point out some of the roadblocks to God’s plan.  God was quick to show Moses that He had a plan and things would work out.  This whole story is a good illustration of learning to trust God and stepping out in faith.  I’m sure that in this process Moses had challenges and times when he wondered how things would work out.  But, the more he trusted God, the more the plan advanced.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see they can trust God.  We usually don’t see the end results at the beginning of the journey.  We don’t see the bumps and curves in the road.  But, we can know that God will hear us, He will be with us and some day we will see the whole picture. Yes, we really can trust God.